Dispensing device



Jan. 12, 1932.

IML E Y AR. H. BAPTISTE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April la, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEYS DISPENSING DEVICE'llll/l/llllIlllllllll/l/ ATTORNEYS jsxg/ Patented Jan. l2,- 1932`UNITI-:D STATES ROBERT H. BAPTISTE, F kQATSKIILIII, NEW YORK DISPENSING DEVICE Application nled April 18,

This invention relates generally to dispensing devices, and refers moreparticularly to an improved apparatus for dlspenslng substances whichare packaged 1n collapslble 6 containers, such as tubes of tooth pasteor the like.

Primarily, the invention contemplates a device of the character setforth which affords means for receiving, supporting and operating upon acollapsible tube to successively effect the dischar e of a uniformquantity of the contents of t e tube to obviate the possibility of wasteby over feedlng.

As a further object, the invention comprehends in a device of thecharacter set forth when a plied to its principal use as a dispenser fdrtooth paste, means o erable by the insertion of a tooth brush for cedinga predetermined q`uantity of tooth paste from a tooth aste tube onto thebristles of the brush where to eliminate the necessity of handling thetube, removing the closure cap and replacing said cap.

The invention further aims to provide an automatically operable valvemechanism for opening and closing the outlet of the supply.

The invention further embodies adjustable means for accommodatingcollapsible tubes of different lengths and for compensating forvariations in the size of the threaded neck of the tube.

Further features of the invention reside in the provision of anapparatus or device of the character set forth which is comparativelysimple in its construction and mode of operation, economical to produceand which is highly eicien't in its purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which there isexhibited one example or em-A bodiment 'of the invention, while theclaims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the device with a toothpaste tube in position therein.

Figure la isa similar fragmentary View illustrating t-he'feeding of thetooth paste onto the tooth brush.

1829. Serial N0.'35B,`154.

Figure 2 is a front view of the device with the cover swung to an o enposition. I

Figure 3 is an enlarge horizontal sectional view taken approximately onthe line indcated at 3-3 in Figure 2.

Flgure 4-is a similar sectional view taken aplrroximately on the lineindicated at 4 4 1n l Referring to the drawings by characters ofreference, the device or apparatus includes a substantially box-likecasing A which is preferably disposed in a vertical o'sition and whichincludes a top wall 10, a ottom wall 11, a rear Wall 12 and side walls13, leaving .the front of the casing open. A front covering wall 14 ispreferably connected to the casing at the lower front end by a hinge 15and a suitable latch 16 is provided at the forward upper end for holdingthe cover 14 in a closed condition.

Within the casing a base 20 is supported by and attached to the bottomwall 11, and said base is provided medially of its forward portion withan upstanding member 21 formed with an opening 22 extending completelytherethrough from the front to the rearV of the member. The upper end ofthe member 21 is provided with a circular socket 23 froml which adepending aperture 24 extends and communicates with the opening 22. Anannular collar 25 is seated in the socket 23 and said collar is providedwith an internal thread 26. The upper end of the collar, which is-disposed ,above the'upper end of the member 21, is provided with anannular ange 27, the periphery of which is serrated or otherwise formedto permit of manual rotation thereof. The outer periphery of the collar,which fits in the socket 23, is provided with an annular groove 28 and ascrew or other equivalent retaining element 29 extends through themember 21 into the socket 23 Vand engages within the groove 28 for thepurpose of removably retaining the collar in place. In

practice, the internal thread 26 of the collar' is designed to receiveand engage with the threaded neck N of the collapsible tube T and it isto be understood that a number of collars 25 having threaded openings 26respectively of varying diameters may be used to compensate forvariation in the sizes of the threaded necks N of tubes of differenttypes and sizes. In effect, the collar 25 is swiveled in the upper endof the member 21 so that in positioning the collapsible 'tube T inplace, the threaded neck may be drawn into the collar b rotation of thesame in one direction and tlie neck may be detached from the collar byrotation of the collar in the opposite direction.

In order to provide means for supporting the closed end E of the tube, aclamp 30 is employed which is supported from the upper end 10 ofthe'casing A. This-clamp includes a fixed jaw 31 and a movable jaw 32,together with means such as a screw 33, for opemng and closing the jawsand for holding the same in their relatively moved positions. The fixedjaw 31 is provided with an npwardly projecting threaded shank 34 which1s received by an internally threaded tubular stem 35 swiveled in theupper wall 10 and provided with an externally disposed manipulating head36, by virtue of which the clamp 30 may be vertically adjusted tocoincide with variations in the length of the collapsible tube.

In order to provide means for feeding the contents of the tube T throughthe neck N and thence through the feed aperture 24, a pair of pressurerollers 40 and 41 is provided, which are journaled in a carrier 42 forvertical movement therewith. The carrier 42 is of substantially U-shapedconstruction including transversely spaced side arms 43 and 44 joined bya rearwardly disposed transversely arranged bight portion 45. The rearroller 41 is formed with trunnions 46 which are journaled in bearingopenings 47 in the arms 43 and 44. The front roller 40 is provided atone end with a trunnion 48 which is journaled in a bearing opening 49 inthe arm 43, while the opposite end of the roller 40 1s provided with aconcentric opening 50 adapted to receive a removable trunnion 51 whichis insertable through a bearing opening 52 in the arm 44. This permitsof the displacement of the front roller for the purpose of facilitatingthe positioning or removal of the tube T within the device. In order toguide the carrier 42 vertically within the casing, the arms 43 and 44are provided wlth vertical guide openings 53 and 54 respectively,through which vertical rods 55 and 56 extend,

said rods being rigidly secured at their upper:

and lower ends in any desired manner, preferably by the anchoring of theupper ends to the upper wall 10 of the casing and the anchoring of thelower ends to the base 20. The

feeding means further includes a feed screw shaft 57 which extendsvertically of the casing A adjacent the rear wall and medially of thetransverse dimension of tne casing. The feed screw shaft has its lowerend arranged in a step bearing 58, which is preferably formed on therbase 2O and has its upper end journaled in a bearing openingr 59 in thetop Wall l0 of the casing. shaft extends through a slot 60 in the bightportion 45v of the carrier 42, and a block 6L is arranged for slidingmovement in the slot 60, which block is provided with a concavethreadedsurface 62 adapted to mate with the threads on the feed screw shaft 57.A spring 63 normally functions to advance the block in a direction toengage the concave threaded surface 62 with the threads of the feedscrew shaft. The block 61 is further provided with an upwardlyprojecting handle 64 for retracting the block against the action of thespring 63 so that the carrier 42 may bev moved vertically withoutrotating the feed screw shaft 57.

The feed screw In order to provide means for successively l turning thefeed screw shaft in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by thearrow in Figure 4, for the purpose of moving the carrier 42 downwardlyso that the pressure rollers 40 and 41 contacting with diametricallyopposite sides of the tube T will express the contents of the tubethrough the neck and feed aperture 24, a ratchet wheel 70 is employed.The ratchet wheel 7 0 is keyed to the feed screw shaft 57 at its lowerend and a ratchet pawl 71 is designed to cooperate with the teeth of theratchet wheel. The ratchet pawl is fulcrumed as at 72 to a lever 73 anda spring 74 functions to press the ratchet pawl 71 into engagement withthe toothed periphery of the ratchet wheel. The lever 73 is fulcrumed asat 75 and is provided with a spring 76 which functions to normally swingthe lever forwardly from the dotted line position in Figure 4 to thefull line position. The free end 77 of the lever is of a size andconfiguration approximating the transverse area of the opening 22 and isformed with a forward concave face 78, the purpose of which will behereafter brought out.

In order to provide means for normally closing the feed aperture oroutlet 24, a slide valve plate 8O is mounted on the upper wall of theopening 22 for fore and aft sliding movement between said upper wall andthe beads or ribs 81. In order to automatically veffect movement of theslide valve plate 80.

opposite points of the upper closed end of the tube. The device is nowready for use, and the Vuser by inserting the bristle end B of the toothbrush C into the casing through the doorway 85, swings the door 86downwardly. rlhe forward end D of the tooth brush head exerts a thruston the concave face 7 S of the end 77 of the lever. The initial swingingof the lever retracts or moves the valve plate 80 to uncover the feedordis charge aperture 24 and continued yin- 'ward movement of the brushcauses the pawl 7l to turn the ratchet wheel 70 in the counterclockwisedirection indicated b the arrow in Figure 4. This turns the fee screwshaft 57 thereof, which causes the carrier 42 and pressure rollers 40and 41 to move downwardly with respect to the fixed tube T. Obviously,pressure is exerted onthe tube for feeding therefrom a predeterminedquantit of the contents of the tube onto the toot brush bristles Bwhilethe same are being moved rearwardly. This spreads the dischargeduantity of the contents over the bristles. en the brush is withdrawn,the

' spring. 76 swings the lever 73 forwardly to the normal position Whilethe pawl 7l freely ratchets over the peripheral teeth of the ratchetwheel 70. Gbviously, the ratchet wheel and shaft 57 are not turned inthe opposite direction so that the carrier 42 and pressure rollers 40and 41 remain stationary until the next operation. `As the lever isswung forwardly, the coupling pin or connection 82 moves the valve plate80 to cut off the contents and to again close the feed or dischargeaperture 24. As the brush is withdrawnthrough the doorway 85, the spring88 functions to again close the door 86 so that the casing is com letelyclosed against the entrance of dust, irt or other foreign matteil whichmay tend to settle upon and contaminate the surfaces of the device. Whenthe contents have been completely dispensed from the tube, it is obviousthat the same may be removed and replaced by a' fresh tube, as

previously explained.

What is claimed is: l. In a device for dispensing the contents ofcollapsible tubes, tube supporting means including a member having athreaded recess within which the threaded outlet neck of the tube isengaged, said member having an opening and a feed aperture leadingtherefrom.

to the recess, a valve plate normally covering the feed aperture andmovable to a position to uncover the same, said tube su porting meansfurther including a clamp adipted to grip the closed end of the tube,means movable longitudinally of the tube from its closed end to theoutlet neck for exerting a pressure thereon to discharge the contentstherefrom, feeding means for successively moving said pressure exert-ingmeans a predetermined distance upon each operation of the feedingl meansto discharge uniformly measured quanti-ties of the contents and aconnection between said feeding means and the valve plate for movingsaid valve plate to an open position upon initial movement of thefeeding mea-ns.

2. A device for dispensing the contents of a. collapsible tube includingmeans for supporting the tube from its opposite ends, a pairof pressurerollers movable longitudinally of the tube from` its closed end to itsopen end for exerting a pressure thereon to effect the discharge of thecontents therefrom, a. carrier supporting said pressure rollers,a rotaryscrew feed shaft, means on the carrier engageable with and disengageablefrom the screw feed shaft adapted when engaged with said shaft to causemovement of they carrier and actuating means for successively turningthe shaft a predetermined distance upon each operation thereof.

3. A device for dispensing the contents of a collapsible tube includingmeans for supporting the tube from its opposite ends, a pair ma ofpressure rollers movable longitudinally of. the tube from its closed endtoits o en end for exerting a pressure thereon to e ectthe discharge ofthe contents therefrom, a carrier supporting said pressure rollers, arotary screw feed shaft,mens on the carrier engag-cable withV anddisengageable from the screw feed shaft adapted when engaged with saidshaft 'to cause movement of the carrier and actuating means forsuccessively turning the shaft a redetermined distance upon eachoperation thereof, one of said pressure rollers being removablyassociated with the carrier to facilitate the positioning and removal ofthe tube with respect to the device.

4. In a device for dispensing the contents of collapsible tubes, tubesupporting means including a member having a recess, a collar Y swiveledin said recess having a threaded bore with which the threaded outletneck of the tube is engageable, said member having' an openingtherethrough and al feed aperture leading therefrom to the recess, avalve plate normally covering the feed aperture at its outlet end andslidable to a position to uncover the same.. said supporting meansfurther including a clamp adapted to grip the closed end of the tube,means movable longitudinally of. the-tube from its closed end to theoutlet neck for'exerting a pressure thereon to discharge the contentstherefrom, feeding means for successively moving the pressure exertingmeans a predetermined distance upon each operation of the feeding meansto discharge uniformly measured quantities of the contents, a connectionbetween said feeding means and the valve for sliding the valve plate toan open position upon initial movelnent of the feeding means andactuating means for the feeding means disposed in line with the openingof said feeding means whereby passage of an article through said openingto actuate the actuating means will position the same relative to theoutlet end of the feed aperture.

5. In a device for dispensing the contents of collapsible tubes, tubesupporting means including a member having a recess, a collar swivele'din said recess having' a threaded bore with which the threaded outletneck of the tube is engageable, said member having an openingtherethrough and a feed aperture leading therefrom to the recess, avalve platev normally covering the feed aperture at its outlet end andslidable to a position to uncover the same, said supporting means-further including a clamp adapted to grip the closed end of the tube,means movable longitudinally of the tube from its closed end to theoutlet neck for exerting a pressure thereon to discharge the contentstherefrom, feeding means Afor successively moving the pressure exertingmeans a predetermined distance upon each operation of the feedingmeansto discharge uniformly measured quantities of the contents, aconnection between said feed- ,ing means and the valve for sliding thevalve plate to an open position upon initial movement of the feedingmeans, aetuatingmeans for the feeding means disposed in line with theopening of said feeding means whereby passage of an article through saidopening to actuate the actuating means will position the same relativeto the outlet end of the feed aperture and a casing for said devicehaving a doorway in alignment with the opening in normally closing thesame.

6. In a device for dispensing the contents of a collapsible tube,including means forv supporting the tube, pressure means forexertingpressure on the tube to effect a discharge of the contentstherefrom, a carrier ,supporting said pressure means, a rotary screwfeed shaft, means on the carrier engageable wlth and disengagable fromthe screw feed shaft and adapted when engaged with said shaft to operatethe carrier and means for turning the shaft.

7. In a device for dispensing the contents of collapsible tubes, tubesupportin means, a member having an opening an aperture for receivingand discharging the contents of the tube, a valve member normallyclosing the feed aperture,a lever having an arm disposed for engagementby a brush, means connecting the lever with the valve member foroperating the latter, and means operable by the lever for exertingpressure on the tube to effect the discharge of the contents of thetube.

8. In a device for dispensing the contents of collapsible tubes, tubesupporting means,

a member having an opening and a feed aperture for receiving anddischarging the contents of the tube, guides, a valve plate movable inthe guides normally closing the feed I Y the contents of the tube, avalve member normally closing the feed aperture, a lever having an armfor engagement by a brush, pivotal means connecting the lever with thevalve member for operating the latter, means for exerting pressure onthe tube to effect the discharge of the contents therefrom, a shaft,means by which the rotation of the shaft is adapted to operate the thirdmentioned means, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft, and a pawlpivoted to the lever and engaging the ratchet wheel.

10. In a device for dispensing the contents of collapsible tubes, tubesupporting means, a member having an opening and a feed aperture forreceiving and discharging the contents of the tube, a valve membernormally closing the feed aperture, a lever having an arm disposed forengagement by a brush, pivotal means connecting the lever with the forexerting pressure on the tube to effect the discharge of the contents ofthe tube, a shaft said member and a spring closed door for h aving meansfor operating the second mentioned means, a ratchet on the shaft, and apawl mounted on the lever for operatively engaging the ratchet.

.ROBERT H. BAPTISTE.

a feed

